Our annual RAIN Internet radio summit in Las Vegas is the premiere learning, sharing, and networking event of the year for Internet radio -- and the 2012 RAIN Summit West is shaping up to be our best ever!

Broadcast radio executives, Internet radio entrepreneurs, and sales and technology visionaries will convene at The LVH -- Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (formerly the Las Vegas Hilton, a new location for us!) for engaging panels and presentations on technical and legal aspects of the business, programming expertise, and business strategies.

Join RAIN publisher Kurt Hanson, RAIN executive editor Paul Maloney, RAIN Summits president Jennifer Lane and a slate of industry leaders for a full day of information and networking. Then end the day socializing with other broadcasters and webcasters at the poolside RAIN Summit cocktail party.

This year's RAIN Summit West will include a new feature: RAIN Summit POVs (Point of View)! We've invited several industry thought leaders to weigh in on a certain topic. Throughout the day, they'll each give us their perspectives, and hopefully provoke further cocktail party conversation, in brief talks. We're sure they'll be a highlight of the day. This year's topic for the POVs is "Redefining Radio."

RAIN Summit West 2012 agenda:(subject to change)

9:30am - 10:00am

PANEL: How Many, How Much?

The high degree of measurability of online media is a fact, but is it a boon or a burden? We'll hear about the measurement tools companies are using to leverage ad dollars.

The audience is growing and the industry is buzzing, but are ad revenues increasing? What are the strategies that streaming audio sellers are using to create excitement about advertising on their platforms? Which advertisers are spending and what are they buying? This panel will discuss the techniques and tools that buyers and sellers are using.

RAIN publisher Kurt Hanson will deliver his annual address about the current state of Internet radio.

12:15pm - 1:00pm

LUNCH

Sponsored by BRS Media.

1:00pm - 1:30pm

PANEL: Innovating the News/Talk Format Online

What about personalized news, sports and talk online? From unique online content offerings to personalized streams and podcasts, there's a lot to talk about when it comes to this format. What's the impact and opportunity of customization and personalization regarding spoken word? Hear from the innovators on this panel.

Eight minutes that will give you a quick overview of Internet radio and its listeners: Is Internet radio increasing overall radio listening? What cities is Internet radio strongest in? How do listeners of iHeartRadio, Radio.com, Slacker and Pandora differ? What terrestrial formats share the most listening with Internet radio?

Presented by: Phillip Beswick (The Media Audit)

1:50pm - 2:20pm

PANEL: The Connected Dashboard

Consumers want to stay connected in their cars and that's driving a shift in dashboard technologies among automakers. What are the forces at play and how is it impacting the streaming industry?

From on-demand and cloud based services to platforms offering genre channels and personalized streams, to streamed stations with live DJs, the online music landscape has never been more diverse. What does this mean for the audience? What is the impact of these various offerings on consumer behavior and song sales? What's the situation with the labels and artists? And what's the optimal business model?

ESPN SVP, Production/Business Divisions Traug Keller will deliver they keynote presentation of RAIN Summit West 2012. Under Keller's leadership, ESPNRadio.com became the most listened to live stream of any AM/FM broadcaster in the world, reaching more than 3 million users per month.

5:00pm - 5:10pm

PECHA KUCHA 3: Radiate Media

Presented by Radiate Media GM Dave Van Dyke.

5:10pm - 5:40pm

PANEL: Personalizable Radio

From one to one broadcasting to artist based channels, listeners love to control their listening. This panel will explore the mechanics of personalized radio from music recommendations to artist information and more. What works, what doesn't, what's next?